Hormonal control of metabolism: regulation of plasma glucose

The control of plasma glucose needs to be tightly monitored because hyperglycaemia and hypoglycaemia can lead to severe clinical problems, including death. In this article the major mechanism for the transport of glucose into and out of the blood and how that mechanism is used to monitor the circulating concentrations of glucose are discussed. A number of hormones regulate glucose in response to changes in plasma concentrations. Insulin promotes the removal of glucose and its conversion to glycogen. Glucagon, in response to falling glucose concentrations, increases the breakdown of glycogen and the release of glucose from the liver. There are many other hormones that play a part in assisting the functions of insulin and glucagon. Failures in the appropriate production of such hormones may lead to the unregulated changes in plasma glucose and subsequent health problems.